Daniel Dubois vows to finish Fabio Wardley sooner in O2 rematch

The WBO heavyweight champion, who got up from two knockdowns to stop Wardley in May, said his nerves have gone and he wants to be undisputed "within six fights".

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Mon 12 Oct, 13:25 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Daniel Dubois, holding the WBO belt, and Fabio Wardley at their rematch launch press conference — Photo: Queensberry Promotions

Post by @Queensberry on X

Daniel Dubois has told The Sun he wishes he had finished Fabio Wardley sooner in May, and that he will come out firing in Saturday's WBO heavyweight title rematch at The O2 in London.

Dubois took the title from Wardley at Co-op Live in Manchester in May, getting up from two knockdowns in the first three rounds before the fight was stopped in the 11th. Wardley activated the rematch clause within a week.

"I do care about other fighters; I have a soft heart. But I can switch into fight mode when I have to," Dubois said. "I wished I was more clinical and took him out earlier. I wished I had jumped on him sooner. I was surprised he was not pulled out earlier. I won't let it get to that point again."

He said the nerves he carried into the first fight have gone. "I have the belt now and the nerves that I had going into that fight are gone. I had to come through that first fight, the knockdowns. I won't start slowly again, I'll get a good warm-up in and come out firing."

Dubois, who knocked out Anthony Joshua at Wembley in 2024 and has lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk, said he wants all four belts. "I was ready to move on but here we are again and I have to retain that belt. I want to get him out of the way now and move on," he said. "Within six fights I want to be undisputed. That's my goal."

He added: "I don't take warm-up or comeback fights." He joked that he probably needed a word with his management, then said: "But it's what I want. It seems like everyone else likes knock-over opponents – but it's not for me."

Dubois said earlier this month that he would like to face Tyson Fury next, after Fury's fight with Joshua on 11 December.

The rematch is on DAZN, with the main event expected at 22:00 UK and Irish time. Full card and UK start times.